State OKs new charter school

Published: Sunday, March 10, 2013 at 03:10 PM.

It's official -- Pinnacle Classical Academy will open in August as Cleveland County's first charter school.

The NC Department of Pubic Instruction awarded a full charter to the school this week.

“It brings us into existence,” said Wes Westmoreland, vice chairman of the school's board of directors. “Before, it was just an idea, but now, we exist.”

Pinnacle plans to start accepting student applications Tuesday.

The school has been accepting letters of intent for several months now, but it was not able to accept applications until the full charter was granted, Westmoreland said. Those who submitted letters will be notified that the application process is under way.

All applications for the 2013 school year must be postmarked by April 5.

If there are more applications than there are student spaces available, the school will hold a public lottery Friday, April 12 at 4 p.m. at the Cleveland County Extension Building Auditorium.

It's official -- Pinnacle Classical Academy will open in August as Cleveland County's first charter school.

The NC Department of Pubic Instruction awarded a full charter to the school this week.

“It brings us into existence,” said Wes Westmoreland, vice chairman of the school's board of directors. “Before, it was just an idea, but now, we exist.”

Pinnacle plans to start accepting student applications Tuesday.

The school has been accepting letters of intent for several months now, but it was not able to accept applications until the full charter was granted, Westmoreland said. Those who submitted letters will be notified that the application process is under way.

All applications for the 2013 school year must be postmarked by April 5.

If there are more applications than there are student spaces available, the school will hold a public lottery Friday, April 12 at 4 p.m. at the Cleveland County Extension Building Auditorium.

Once students are notified of their acceptance, they must make a final decision on whether or not they want to attend, which requires filling out a final step to the application.

All rising kindergarteners through sixth graders are eligible to attend Pinnacle Classical Academy.

Pinnacle will open in the fall as a tuition-free school open to North Carolina students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Each year, the school will add an additional grade to the school until grades K-12 are offered.

“We have worked for nearly two years to receive our official charter, and have all of the pieces in place now to move forward; a lot will happen very quickly,” Debbie Clary, Pinnacle Classical Academy board chairwoman, said in a press release.

For its first year, Pinnacle will operate in the old Hallelujah Acres building at 900 South Post Road in Shelby while the permanent campus is under construction. Pinnacle plans to build a permanent location off Joe's Lake Road in Shelby.

Renovations to the temporary campus are expected to be done in time for a ribbon cutting in mid-to-late July.

In addition to accepting student applications, Pinnacle will be accepting applications for teachers, assistants and support staff beginning next week. The school will eventually employ about 60 full-time and 15 part-time faculty and staff members.

Reach Star intern Jeanie Groh at 704-669-3333.

How can you apply?

* Applications will be available online at http://pinnacleclassicalacademy.com/

* Applications will also be available at Badcock Furniture at 1404 South Lafayette St. in Shelby and Westmoreland Printers at 2020 East Dixon Blvd. in Shelby.

* Updated information is also available on the Pinnacle Classical Academy Facebook page.